Since the start of Operation Vala Umgodi, fifteen thousand zama zamas have been arrested in a police crackdown on illegal mining across seven provinces. Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola vowed to continue the operation, which included a recent visit to a mine shaft in Sabie where over 100 illegal miners are trapped underground.
JOHANNESBURG - Fifteen thousand zama zamas have been arrested since police embarked on Operation Vala Umgodi targeting illegal mining in the country last year.
He made the remarks during a visit to an abandoned mine shaft in Sabie, Mpumalanga, where over 100 illegal miners are believed to be trapped underground. It's been three weeks since Police Minister Senzo Mchunu first visited the abandoned Buffelsfontein mine here in Stilfontein where he appointed a task team to help bring the illegal miners back up to the surface.
Despite some potential red flags about safety, Mchunu announced law enforcement would go ahead as planned.Although he wasn't with Mchunu in his previous visits to Stilfontein, Masemola may have some tough questions to answer about why a plan that cost a million rand is still up in the air.
Police Arrest Illegal Mining Operation Vala Umgodi Zama Zamas South Africa
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